klein



Jan. 31, 1956 N. E. KLEIN 2,732,681

TEXTILE FLYING OR TWISTING DEVICE Filed April 12. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR NORMAN E. KLEIN BY 6 MM 77 ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1956 N, E. KLEm 2,732,681

TEXTILE FLYING OR TWISTING DEVICE Filed April 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I. Ge 56 HUN I ,4 Y :H h

INVENTOR NORMAN E. KLElN BY Won/mm ATTORNEY United States Patent TEXTILE PLYING 0R TWISTING DEVICE Norman E. Klein, Clemson, S. C., assignor to Deering Millikan Research Corporation, near Pendleton, Geonee County, S. C., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 220,665 Claims. (Cl. 5758.65)

The present invention comprises a novel twisting or plying device for textile strands. The new device has a high output per unit floor space, is simple and economical to manufacture and to operate and produces yarn of uniform quality and twist. The new twister or plyer may be advantageously employed for twisting or plying both fine and coarse yarns.

The new device may be generally described as an upright inflow two-for-one twister. It comprises essentially a vertically disposed driven spindle, a take-up device and support platform therefor mounted on the spindle and magnetically stabilized against rotation therewith and a fiyer secured to and rotating with the spindle for causing yarn introduced into an axial passage in the lower end of the spindle and led out through an aperture in the side thereof to balloon about the take-up device before being delivered downwardly thereto. The fiyer is preferably a disk type fiyer and has associated therewith a Wraparound or storage device for the yarn issuing from the spindle aperture. Preferably also, a balloon confining ring or band positioned substantially at the level where the diameter of a free balloon about the take-up device would be maximum provides, with the storage device, tension control stabilization of the balloon shape.

The above briefly described device inserts two twists into the yarn with each rotation of the spindle. When a single yarn is fed into the lower end of the spindle the device operates as a simple two-for-one twister. When two or more yarns are fed thereto, the yarns are twisted together and hence the device operates as a plyer twister.

For a better understanding of the invention and of the advantages thereof reference may be had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. l is a side view partly in section of a two-for-one twister embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device of Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2 thereof; Pig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. l and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side View showing the device of Fig. 1 arranged for plying of two separately twisted single yarns.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the new twister includes a spindle 2 which is rotatably mounted by means of upper and lower bearings 4 and 6 on a post 8 carried by a spindle rail it). Secured, as by welding, to the spindle 2 is a disk fiyer 12 with which is associated a wrap-around device 14 having an annular skirt 16. The post 8 has an axial passage 18 which communicates with an orifice 26 in the side wall of the spindle. The orifice 20 is substantially at the level of the skirt 16 of the storage device and of a yarn guide slot 22 therein.

A support frame or platform 24 is carried by the spindie 2 above the fiyer 12 by means of a suitable bearing. Magnetic means, as for example, a small permanent magnet 26 carried by the frame and a fixed magnet 28 supported from the rail 16 by a bracket 39, serve to prevent rotation of the frame with the spindle.

Journaled in the vertical walls 24 'of theframeis the axle of a spirally grooved traverse roll 32 of conventional construction. The roll 32 is driven by a belt 34 from a pulley 36 fixed to the shaft of a gear 38, gear 38 being driven by a pinion gear 40 on the upper end of the spindle 2. A pair of idler pulleys 42 and 44 are provided for guiding the belt 3d in its passage between the pulley 36 and roll 32. The side walls 24 of the frame 24 are provided with V-shaped slots 46 for reception of the ends of the axle 48 carrying a cylindrical bobbin form 49 for a package 50, the package being wound by surface engagement with the spirally grooved traverse roll 32 in conventional manner. In Figs. 1 and 3 the package is illustrated as being almost completely wound and therefore the axle 48 is above the bottom of the slot 46.

A ring 52 is secured as by screws 54 to the frame 24 adjacent the top thereof to serve as an inner limit for the yarn balloon. An apex yarn guide 56 is supported by an arm 5 mounted on the frame in the neighborhood of the magnet 26, arm 55 being hinged to permit the guide to be retracted for removal of the package 50. Mounted in upwardly extending portions 66 of the side walls 24' of the frame is a yarn guide pin 62 over which the yarn Y passes from the guide 5'6 to the grooved roll 32.

Secured to the bracket 30 at a level substantially midway between the guide 56 and the base of the frame 24 is a ring or band 54 which engages the yarn in its path from the disk fiyer 12 to the guide 56 and, together with the wrap-around device 14, insures proper stability of the balloon shape.

The operation of the above described twister will be apparent from the foregoing description of the various parts thereof. In threading-up the device an end of yarn from a supply source (not shown) is wrapped around the end of a threading-up snake (a long tightly coiled spring of small diameter) and the snake then pushed up through the passage 13 and out the aperture 29, the upper end wall of the passage 18 being smoothly curved to guide the end of the snake out through the orifice. The yarn end is then led through the slot 22 in the storage device, over the fiyer, inside the band 64, then downwardly through the annular guide 56, around the pin 62 to the grooved roll 32. It is then broken from the snake and wrapped around the cylindrical bobbin form 49. Rotation of the spindle 2, as by a drive belt 66 engaging the whorl of the spindle, causes rotation of the roll 32 and of the bobbin-axle unit, the bobbin-axle unit being rotated through surface engagement with the roll. The rotation of the roll 32 and form 49 causes travel of the yarn through the spindle passage and over the under surface of the flyer, up to the guide 56 and down over guide 62 to the package and rotation of the fiyer causes the yarn in its passage to guide 56 to balloon about the frame and parts carried thereby, the frame and the elements thereon being prevented from rotating as a unit by the magnetic attraction between the poles of magnets 26 and 28. The band 64- confines the yarn balloon and, as heretofore indicated, cooperates with the storage device 14 in controlling the tension in the yarn. In copending applications of the present applicant, Serial No. 133,047, filed December 15, 1949, and Serial No. 179,069, filed August 12, 1950 now Patent No. 2,625,786, issued January 20, 1953, to which reference may be had, the functioning of a balloon confining ring, such as ring 64, when used in conjunction with a wrap-around or storage disk such as device 14 is described with reference to two-for-one twisters of the outflow type. The combination of balloon confining ring with the wrap-around device in the inflow spindle orifice to and around a variable angle of the sleeve of the storage device and then upwardly in a balloon engaging a balloon confining ring.

The twister of Figs. 1 to 3 inserts two twists into the yarn at each revolution of the spindle, one twist at exit from the spindle orifice and one at passage through the guide 56. The twister is particularly adapted for use in plying as it requires but relatively small gauge for a high rate of twist insertion.

In Fig. 4 the device of Figs. 1 to 3 is shown arranged for plying two yarns each separately pretwisted on twisters which may be, and preferably are, twisters of the type disclosed and claimed in the said pending applications. In Fig. 4 a unit of a two-deck frame is diagrammatically illustrated as including upper and lower spindle rails 76 and 78, respectively, with the spindles 3% of two outflow two-for-one twisters 82 mounted on the lower rail 78. Each of the twisters 82, which are preferably of the type disclosed in Serial No. 179,069, includes a supply of yarn 84 supported from a platform 86 rotatably mounted on the spindle 80 and magnetically stabilized against rotation therewith, suitable pretensioning means 88 axially positioned above the yarn supply, a disk flyer and storage device 90 secured to the spindle 80 beneath the platform 86 and a balloon confining ring 92. A yarn guide 94 suspended from the upper rail 76 at the apex of the yarn balloon formed about the supply package serves to guide the yarn to the axial passage 18 of spindle 2. The supply packages 84 and tension device 88 are preferably enclosed by suitable covers 96 of plastic or the like. The take-up unit of the plying device does not need to be enclosed as appreciable tension in the yarn between guide 56 and roll 32 (see Fig. 1) prevents -it from being carried out into the balloon path. When a cover is omitted threading-up is simplified.

As compared to ply twisters now in use, the arrangement of Fig. 4 has a substantially greater production rate per foot of spindle rail. The ply twister can be designed for gauge of 8 inches, can wind a package of 1.7 lbs. of yarn between dofiing, and can operate at 10,000 R. P. M. Thus, a rate of twist insertion in the neighborhood of 30,000 twists per minute per lineal foot of rail is achieved.

The new ply twister has now been described with reference to one specific embodiment thereof. Obviously various changes in the specific construction illustrated and described could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the accompanying claims. For example, although a spirally grooved roll has been described as the traverse means of the take-up device, other traversing means known to the art, such as heart cam actuated traverse guide, segment gears and the like, could be employed. Also, various other means than those illustrated could be employed for driving the take-up device from the spindle. In the said copending application Serial No. 179,069 means are disclosed for preventing continued feed of yarn through the spindle orifice after a break has occurred in the yarn balloon and for trapping the tail of yarn extending from the spindle under such circumstances. These means have not been illustrated herein as forming no part of the present invention but it will be understood that the spindle 2 of the ply twister, as well as the spindles of the twisters supplying yarn to be plied, could, and preferably would, be provided with such means.

The twister of the present invention, when supplied with yam from a single two-for-one twister, whether of the type of that disclosed in Serial No. 133,047 and Serial No. 176,069 or of any other type, operates together therewith as a four-for-one twister. Such an arrangement, which is within the scope of the present invention, has not been separately illustrated and described as it would differ from that illustrated in Fig. 4 only in the omission of one of the spindles 80 and of the parts carried thereby.

The following is claimed:

1. A twister comprising in combination a rotatable spindle, a stationary shaft about which said spindle is adapted to rotate, a support member carried thereby, means preventing rotation of said support member with said spindle, a yarn take-up device mounted on said support member, means for driving said take-up device from said spindle, a fiyer fixed to said spindle for rotation therewith, yarn guide means supported from said support member at a location on the extended axis of said spindle, said shaft having an axial passage therein and said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof in the neighborhood of said flyer for passage of yarn therethrough, and means for driving said spindle, whereby when yarn is threaded through the axial passage of said shaft and is led out said orifice to said take-up device by way of said fiyer and guide means two twists are inserted in the yarn for each rotation of the spindle and the yarn balloons about the take-up device and support member in transit from the fiyer to the guide means.

2. The twister according to claim 1 wherein said takeup device includes means for traversing a winding core with the yarn being taken up.

3. An inflow two-for-one twister comprising a rotatable spindle, a fixed shaft about which said spindle is adapted to be rotated, a yarn storage device fixed to said spindle for rotation therewith and having a yarn receiving surface thereon, said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof terminating adjacent the surface of said yarn storage device, said shaft having an axial passage therethrough communicating with said orifice for the infiow of yarn through said passage and out of said orifice.

4. The twister according to claim 3, including yarn guide means positioned on the extended axis of the spindle to cause yarn emerging from said orifice and passing through said guide means to balloon between said storage device and guide means, a support member carried by said spindle and stabilized against rotation therewith, yarn take-up means carried by said support member, and means for driving said yarn take-up means from said spindle to cause yarn to be drawn through said guide means and wound on said take-up means.

5. A twister comprising in combination a rotatable spindle, a stationary shaft about which said spindle is adapted to be rotated, a support platform carried by said spindle, means preventing rotation of said platform with said spindle, a yarn take-up device mounted on said platform, means for driving said take-up device from said spindle, a flier fixed to said spindle for rotation therewith and having a yarn storage surface thereon, yarn guide means supported from said platform at a location on the extended axis of said spindle, said shaft having an axial passage therein and said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof terminating adjacent the yarn storage surface of said flier for passage of yarn therethrough, and means for driving said spindle, whereby when yarn is threaded through the axial passage of said shaft and is led out said orifice to said take-up device by way of said yarn storage surface of said flier and guide means, two twists are inserted in the yarn for each rotation of the spindle and the yarn balloons about the take-up device and platform in transit from the flier to the guide means.

6. In an inflow two-for-one twister, a rotatable spindle, a yarn storage device fixed to said spindle for rotation therewith and having a yarn receiving surface thereon, said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof terminating adjacent the surface of said yarn storage device and an axial passage leading from one end thereof into communication with said orifice, a support member carried by said spindle and stabilized against rotation therewith, yarn guide means carried by said support member and positioned on the extended axis of the spindle, yarn take-up means carried by said support member, and means for driving said yarn take-up means to cause yarn fed from a point outside said spindle through the axial passage therein, the orifice, the storage device, guide means and take-up means to be given a double twist when the spindle is rotated and to be wound upon said take-up means.

7. A twisting machine comprising a rotatable spindle, a yarn storage device secured to said spindle intermediate its ends for rotation therewith and having a yarn receiving surface thereon, said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof terminating adjacent the surface of said yarn storage device and an axial passage leading from one end thereof into communication with said orifice, a platform carried by said spindle adjacent the other end thereof and stabilized against rotation therewith, yarn guide means supported on said platform and positioned on the extended axis of the spindle, yarn take-up means carried by said platform including means for traversing the yarn to form a stable package, and means for driving said yarn take-up and traversing means from said spindle whereby yarn fed from a point outside said spindle through the axial passage therein, the orifice, the storage device, guide means inwardly and finally to the take-up means is given a double twist when the spindle is rotated and is wound up on the take-up means.

8. In a yarn handling device the combination comprising a rotatable spindle, a stationary shaft about which 5 said spindle is adapted to be rotated, a flyer fixed to said spindle for rotation therewith and having a yarn storage surface thereon, yarn guide means positioned substantially in axial alignment with said spindle, yarn take-up means adapted to receive yarn from said guide means, said shaft having an axial passage therein and said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof terminating adjacent the yarn storage surface of said flyer for passage of yarn therethrough, whereby, when yarn is passed through said shaft and said orifice to said guide means to be received by said take-up means and is rotated by said flyer in the form of a balloon between said yarn storage surface and said guide means, the tension in the yarn while in the balloon is at least partially controlled by said yarn storage surface.

9. In a yarn handling device, a rotatable spindle, a yarn storage device fixed to said spindle for rotation therewith and having a yarn receiving surface thereon, said spindle having an orifice in the wall thereof terminating adjacent the surface of said yarn storage device and an axial passage leading from one end thereof into communication with said orifice, yarn guide means positioned on the extended axis of said spindle opposite the end having said axial passage, yarn take-up means to receive yarn from said guide means whereby, When yarn is fed from a point outside said spindle through said axial passage and said orifice to said guide means to be received by said take-up means and is rotated in the form of a balloon between said yarn storage device and said guide means, the tension in the yarn while in the balloon is at least partially controlled by said yarn storage device.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including means for movably attaching said guide means to enable it to be deflected from its operative to an inoperative position to thereby permit removal of a yarn winding form carried by said spindle without unthreading the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,178 Norman Mar. 17, 1903 843,448 Fahr Feb. 5, 1907 1,858,205 Ferier May 10, 1932 2,013,023 Bochmann et a1. Sept. 3, 1935 2,207,574 Bochmann July 9, 1940 2,487,838 Uhlig Nov. 15, 1949 2,534,496 Agresti Dec. 19, 1950 2,550,136 Clarkson Apr. 24, 1951 2,597,015 May May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 271,074 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1951 441,014 Germany Feb. 21, 1927 487,763 Germany Dec. 18, 1929 

5. A TWISTER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A ROTATABLE SPINDLE, A STATIONARY SHAFT ABOUT WHICH SAID SPINDLE IS ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED, A SUPPORT PLATFORM CARRIED BY SAID SPINDLE, MEANS PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID PLATFORM WITH SAID SPINDLE, A YARN TAKE-UP DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID TAKE-UP DEVICE FROM SAID SPINDLE, A FLIER FIXED TO SAID SPINDLE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND HAVING A YARN STORAGE SURFACE THEREON, YARN GUIDE MEANS SUPPORTED FROM SAID PLATFROM AT A LOCATION ON THE EXTENDEND AXIS OF SAID SPINDLE, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN AXIAL PASSAGE THEREIN AND SAID SPINDLE HAVING AN ORIFICE IN THE WALL THEREOF TERMINATING ADJACENT THE YARN STORAGE SURFACE OF SAID FLIER FOR PASSAGE OF YARN THERETHROUGH, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID SPINDLE, WHEREBY WHEN YARN IS THREADED THROUGH THE AXIAL PASSAGE OF SAID SHAFT AND IS LED OUT SAID ORIFICE TO SAID TAKE-UP DEVICE BY WAY OF SAID YARN STORAGE SURFACE OF SAID FLIER AND GUIDE MEANS, TWO TWISTS ARE INSERTED IN THE YARN FOR EACH ROTATION OF THE SPINDLE AND THE YARN BALLOONS ABOUT THE TAKE-UP DEVICE AND PLATFORM IN TRANSIT FROM THE FLIER TO THE GUIDE MEANS. 